Ann Arbor Travel Guide
I get to travel to Ann Arbor each year for the Food the Main Course conference, a GI nutrition conference hosted by the University of Michigan. Even though I’m usually only in town for four days, I love getting a little dose of Ann Arbor every time I visit. It’s a beautiful, welcoming city with great food, charming neighborhoods, and some of the kindest people.
One thing to note: I’ve only visited Ann Arbor during the summer when the University of Michigan is largely out of session, so I’ve experienced the city without the usual college crowds. I imagine the energy can feel quite different during the school year.
Read on for my Ann Arbor Travel Guide, where I’m sharing my favorite places to stay, eat, explore, and move based on my visits to this charming Michigan city.
Where to Stay
The Graduate by Hilton ★★★★★
I stayed at the Graduate during my first visit to Ann Arbor and loved it for its central location, cozy atmosphere, and charming, collegiate-inspired decor. The design has a vintage, eclectic feel with plenty of nods to the University of Michigan and the character of Ann Arbor.
When I write my hotel recaps, I usually like to share both the pros and cons, but I genuinely only have pros for this one. My room felt comfortable and thoughtfully designed, and the overall experience felt like really good quality for the price. I also loved being within walking distance of so much of downtown Ann Arbor. I would absolutely stay here again.
Vanguard Hotel ★★★★★
The Vanguard Hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a group of hotels I’ve consistently had great experiences with, and The Vanguard was no exception. The hotel feels elevated and luxurious without being overly formal, with beautiful, modern interiors and thoughtful design details throughout. I loved my room so much that I genuinely enjoyed spending time there between exploring the city.
Similar to The Graduate, I really don’t have any cons to share. I had a lovely stay, slept incredibly well, and loved the location for exploring Ann Arbor. Between the beautiful design, comfortable rooms, and overall experience, I would happily stay here again.
Where to Eat
Located just outside downtown Ann Arbor, The Dixboro Project is a beautiful restaurant and gathering space set on a historic property. The concept centers around seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking, with multiple ways to experience the property, including its full-service restaurant, Dixboro House, and the more casual Boro, where you can grab food to go and enjoy it on the property.
This was by far one of my favorite restaurants, not just in Ann Arbor, but in the U.S. The food was divine! We tried the gem lettuce salad, squash blossoms, blue corn cornbread, salumi pizza, and smoked chicken, and everything tasted incredibly fresh and flavorful. I loved this meal so much that I would genuinely go back to Ann Arbor just for this restaurant.
Located in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown neighborhood, Miss Kim is a Korean restaurant from chef Ji Hye Kim that combines Korean culinary traditions with seasonal ingredients and influences from the chef’s own experiences growing up in Korea. The menu offers a contemporary take on both familiar and lesser-known Korean dishes.
The food here was delicious! The menu is designed for sharing, so this would be a great spot to visit with a group for lunch or dinner. They also offer plenty of gluten-free (GF) options, making it a great choice for anyone following a GF diet.
Mani is a lively Italian restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor specializing in wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and small plates. The menu is approachable and great for sharing, making it an easy choice for a casual dinner or a meal with a group.
It’s not necessarily the best Italian food I’ve ever had, but it’s consistently very good and I always enjoy coming back when I’m in Ann Arbor.
The only photo I captured from the Earle, but this wine was delicious!
The Earle is a longtime (like 50 years old!) Ann Arbor restaurant tucked below street level, with an intimate, old-school atmosphere and live jazz. The menu features traditional French and Italian-inspired dishes alongside an incredibly extensive wine list. It’s truly one of the largest I’ve ever seen!
The food leans more toward classic, traditional Italian, making it a nice contrast to Mani’s more modern approach. If you’re looking for a cozy dinner with good wine and a little more atmosphere, this is a great option.
Where to Get Desserts + Coffee
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is ask locals for their recommendations. After taking a class at Red Yoga, I asked the staff where I should go for coffee, and they pointed me to Lab Cafe, just a few shops down.
I tried one of their lattes and loved it! The coffee had such a distinct flavor that stood out from other coffee shops I’ve visited, and I would absolutely come back for another. I also tried one of the pastries, which was just okay. Next time, I’d skip the pastry and stick with the coffee.
Blank Slate Creamery is a family-owned ice cream shop, known for its small-batch ice cream and creative, rotating flavors. They make their ice cream base and many of their mix-ins from scratch, which I personally love and tend to tolerate better. You’ll find everything from classic flavors to more unexpected options like Fresh Basil, Lavender Lemon Honey, and Browned Butter Cookie Dough, along with sorbets and non-dairy options too.
One thing to note: I didn’t have the best experience with the service. The staff were fairly particular about how the ice creams were ordered and came across as a bit rude when we didn’t say them correctly, which unfortunately took away from the experience for me. That said, you could definitely tell the ice cream was freshly made, and there were plenty of interesting flavors to choose from. Overall, I’d give it a 7/10.
Bakehouse 46 is a casual bakery and café in downtown Ann Arbor specializing in cupcakes, pastries, bagels, and coffee. It’s an easy spot to stop for breakfast, grab a quick coffee, or pick up something sweet while exploring downtown.
The cupcakes were decent—I’d give them about a 7/10. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way for one, but it’s a convenient little stop if you’re already downtown and craving something sweet.
On my list for next time:
Spencer: An intimate, seasonal restaurant and wine bar known for its changing menu that focuses on locally sourced ingredients.
Aventura:A lively downtown spot inspired by Spanish cuisine, known for its tapas, paella, cocktails, and energetic atmosphere.
Zingerman’s Delicatessen:An Ann Arbor institution known for its massive deli sandwiches and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. It’s one of those iconic local spots that you have to try at least once! I actually attempted to go on my last visit but the line was too long for us to wait in before we needed to catch our flight.
What to Do
While it’s not the largest farmers market by any means, the Ann Arbor Farmers Market feels like a cherished local ritual. It’s located right in front of Kerrytown Market & Shops and features the types of vendors you’d expect to find at a local farmers market, including fresh produce, nuts, jams, flowers, and more. It’s open on Saturdays year-round, with additional Wednesday market days during part of the year.
This charming collection of independent shops and local businesses is housed inside a historic building in the Kerrytown neighborhood. It’s not very large, so you can easily walk through in an hour, browse the shops, grab a coffee, and even have lunch at Miss Kim afterward, which is right in the same area.
Walk Around Downtown
Downtown Ann Arbor has that quintessential small-town feel and is incredibly walkable. One of my favorite things to do is simply wander around the area. There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and independent stores to pop into along the way. I’ve only experienced downtown during the quieter summer months, but I love how relaxed and easy it feels to explore on foot.
Visit a Local Bookstore
Ann Arbor has a great independent bookstore scene, and Literati Bookstore was one of my favorite finds downtown. It’s the kind of cozy bookstore where you can easily lose track of time. I especially loved heading upstairs, finding the travel section, and sitting for a while to browse through books which is pretty much my ideal way to spend an afternoon.
On my list for next time:
Attend a U of M football game at the Big House:I’ve only visited Ann Arbor during the summer, so I have yet to experience the city during football season. Attending a University of Michigan game at the iconic Big House is high on my list for a future fall visit, although I’ve heard tickets can be hard to come by. Fun fact: the “Big House” is the largest stadium in the U.S. and can hold more than 100,000 people!
Visit the University of Michigan Museum of Art: The University of Michigan Museum of Art is another spot I’d love to explore on a future trip. Located right on campus, it would be an easy addition to a day spent walking around the University of Michigan and downtown Ann Arbor.
Where to Move
Kayak on the Huron River
For a peaceful way to get outside and see another side of Ann Arbor, head to Gallup Park and rent a kayak to explore the Huron River. I was able to rent a kayak on the spot without a reservation for around $20 for two hours, which was plenty of time for me to paddle one of the shorter routes.
I went at a quieter time and was honestly one of the only people out on the water for a while, which made the experience even better. It was so peaceful paddling along the river surrounded by greenery, and it ended up being one of my favorite ways to get some movement in while exploring Ann Arbor.
Tip: Rental prices, hours, and availability can change seasonally, so I recommend checking the Gallup Park Livery website before you go.
Nichols Arboretum, commonly called “the Arb,” is a beautiful green space right near the University of Michigan campus with miles of walking and hiking trails. It’s the perfect place to escape into nature without having to venture far from downtown and it is truly beautiful! Take a leisurely walk through the gardens and wooded trails, or turn it into more of a workout by going for a run.
I stopped by before I needed to attend a few conference sessions with the intention of going for a “quick” run, but once I was there, I didn’t want to leave. Instead, I slowed down, spent some time walking, and tried to be mindful of all the gorgeous greenery around me—something I don’t get to experience quite as much back home in Los Angeles.
I love checking out local yoga studios when I travel, and Red Yoga was my pick in Ann Arbor. The studio offers infrared-heated yoga, and I took a Level 2 class with Sandra that I really enjoyed. The sequencing was a little different from what I’m used to, but in a way that kept the class interesting, and we were also given some time to flow on our own.
I was especially happy that the heat felt relatively mild rather than overwhelmingly hot, which made the class much more enjoyable for me. Overall, it was a lovely practice, and I would happily go back.